The Washington critic., 1887-07-08

think he would have taken case which he
thought contrary to justice. He might
have made fortune at his law had he
charged the ordinary fees, for he had a very
large practice. He was not very rich when
he was elected Chief Justice, and don't
now. He made one large fec that know
OF, and that was $40, 900 which he received
for his services In connection with the At
lantic and Great Western Railroad cases.
He has son who is lawyer In Toledo, and
his daughter, Miss Mary, is a very accom-
plished young lady"
Connecticut. He had been born at Lyme,
educated at Yale in the same class with
WIN. NJ. Evarts, studied law with his father
and during the term OF Martin Van Buren
had come West to Ohio to practice. He
soon jumped into a big business, but he
lived well and did not save much money,
because. as Representative Hill says, ne
charged too little for his services. For le
writing OF brief at the request OF the 10.
fance County Commissioners In cas- n
volving $4,000, Hill says he charged ly
$50. His brief settled the case, and hal 1t
been written by other lawyers Of equal 10
the charge would have been 81 900 ins id
of $50. Waites first case In Defiance Conty
was tried shortly after bis admission to the
bar. The court was held In the seg md
story Of building in Defiance, which etill
stands, and Waite was terribly worsted by
young man who had more voice than
brains, and who now lives at Defiance, an
unknown and not very prosperous old man.
Waite was once a member OF the Ohio
State Legislature. He also declined po-
sitlon on the Ohio Supreme bench, and
Grant sent him In connection with his old
classmate, VIM. NJ. Evarts, as one Of the
counsel Of the Geneva arbitration.
He was given the appointment Of Chief
Justice Of the Supreme Court without hav-
ing asked for 1t and having no idea that 1t
would be rendered him. Representative
Hill tells me how the matter was first
called to Grants attention, and OF q little
meeting at Toledo, which secured Waite
the appointment. "Grant was travelling
over the United States, and when he came
him. The committee on arrangements was
composed Of Waite's friends, and they
were anxious that Grant should appoint
Waite to bis present position. They said
nothing, however, and had Waite make the
address Of the occasion: lie did this in
masterly manner, talking to Grant az
became with bis t%n Sce Hns not sSsOn oysTGw
which was go common to Grants
receptions at that time. Grant was delighted
with the effort. He had known Of Waite
somewhat in connection with Evarts. He
knew him to be man OF the utmost probity,
and Of no political aspirations. He made
inquiries about him, aud concluded that he
was the proper man to take the place left
vacant by Chief Justice Chase. He ap-
pointed Waite, and no better choice was
ever made for such position. Waite ac-
eepted the position, and understand that
he shows no indications Of intending to re-
tire from 1t now."
His home In Washington is wide brown
stone building Of three or four stories, on |
street, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth.
He lives well and often gives dinners to his
fellow judges and the other noted people
Of Washington society. He has entirely re-
covered from his illness Of a year or SO ago,
and he appears to be able TO stick to the
Supreme Bench as long as life sticks to his
bones. lie is already eligible to retire
ment, but like other Of his fellow septuage-
narians Of the Supreme Court he prefers to
earn his salary to having the Government
pension him at the rate Of $4,000 a year.
He wears his seventy years exceedingly
well. His eye is bright and bis step is
firm, and the wrinkles In his dark square
face are few. His beard Is, however, be-
ginning to grow gray aud his black hair Is
already tinged with bright silver. He
makes an excellent Chief Justice, and the
integrity Of his decisions has never been
questioned. FRANK G. CARPENTER.